UEFA Cup: Livorno's dream continues; Palermo's ends

Wednesday 13 December
Group H: Palermo 1-1 Celta Vigo
Palermo fought back from a goal down, but couldn't get the win they needed against Celta Vigo to continue their UEFA Cup adventure at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. Although Giovanni Tedesco cancelled out Baiano's 59th-minute opener for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining, Celta managed to hang on for a point in Sicily and in so doing opened the trap door on Palermo. The result left Celta second in Group H with five points and Palermo fourth, level on four points with third-placed Fenerbahce but behind the Turkish side on goal difference.

Thursday 14 December
Group A: Auxerre 0-1 Livorno
Cristiano Lucarelli's 59th-minute goal carried Livorno into the Round of 32 as they emerged victorious from a winner-takes-all battle with Auxerre at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps in France. Neither side were assured of a place in the next stage at kick-off, but Auxerre held the advantage, knowing a draw would be enough to see them finish third behind Rangers and Maccabi Haifa in Group A. Auxerre paid the price for not taking one of the many chances they created as Livorno took the lead. Dario Passoni whipped in a corner and Lucarelli got up to nod in from ten metres. The Amaranto now join Parma in Friday's draw.

Group D: Parma 0-3 Osasuna
An already qualified Parma were too relaxed to maintain their 100 per cent UEFA Cup record, falling 3-0 at home to Osasuna. Two goals from David Lopez and a late third from substitute Juanfran gave Osasuna the point they needed and more, the victory lifting them to seven points and securing them second place in the section. Having already qualified as Group D winners after three straight successes, Parma fielded a weakened side and Osasuna sought to take full advantage.

This Week's Other Results
Group A: Rangers 1-0 Partizan Belgrade.
Group B: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Besiktas, Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Besiktas.
Group C: FC Braga 2-0 Grasshoppers, Sevilla 1-2 AZ Alkmaar.
Group D: Heerenveen 1-0 Lens.
Group E: Blackbrun Rovers 1-0 Nancy, Feyenoord 3-1 Wisla Krakow.
Group F: Espanyol 1-0 Austria Vienna, Zulte Waregem 0-3 Ajax.
Group G: PSG 4-0 Panathinaikos, Hopoel Tel-Aviv 1-1 Mlada Boleslav.
Group H: Fenerbahce 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt.